Guest Coaches

The Guest Coaches Program was developed to provide USC faculty with an inside look at the operations of Student-Athlete Academic Services. The two-day informative session provides a better understanding of a student-athlete’s academic and athletic commitments so one can appreciate the mental and physical demands placed on our athletes here at USC. Faculty learn about the operations of our athletic department and have the opportunity to meet, communicate with and ask questions of USC’s administration, coaches and SAAS staff. These interactions offer insight into how we monitor, coach and provide the necessary resources for our student-athletes to succeed both in the classroom and on the playing field. Faculty also have the opportunity to enjoy behind the scenes tours of the John McKay Center and the LA Coliseum, two buildings that truly represent the University of Southern California’s student-athletes.

The two day program starts on the Friday before a home football game. On the itinerary for this day is lunch in the Galen dinning center followed by a guided tour of the John McKay Center, film session, meetings with the athletic director, Director of Football Operations, and Director of SAAS. The tour then moves to the practice field where the guest coaches watch our football student athletes at practice and chat with Coach Sarkisian. Day 1 finishes with a pep rally in Heritage Hall.

The second part of the program takes place on Saturday or “GameDay.” On gameday the guest will start with a tour of the Trojans locker room. Next stop is the press box followed by lunch/dinner. Afterward, the guest coaches make their way to the field to experience the sidelines and take in the scenery. Finally the group will have a photo taken with Coach Sarkisian before heading to their seats to watch the game. Our hope is that the guest coaches program will allow SAAS to establish great working relationships with faculty while sharing a unique experience.

Student Academic Athletic Services

About

The USC Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) Program is committed to providing the necessary support to assist all student-athletes in reaching their full potential academically, personally, and professionally. Our program includes academic advising, career development, community service, tutorial programs, and learning specialists, which are all aimed at promoting a philosophy of individual responsibility so as to encourage each student-athlete to value their educational experience.